What is Good Friday?
Every year around the end of March to the end of April (depending on the year) there is a Christian holiday called Good Friday. If you have ever wondered "what is Good Friday?" in terms of its name and origin then you have come to the right place. In this overview we will tell you what Good Friday is, where Good Friday began and the significance behind the day.
Where did the "Good" in the name Good Friday come from?
In modern times, Good Friday is a day that is celebrated by Christians to commemorate the day Jesus Christ was crucified. When you look at it that way, having the day called "good" seems rather cruel. The Oxford English Dictionary says that the word good in “Good Friday” means "a day or season observed as holy by the church". The dictionary also states that around the year 1290 is when the term “goude” Friday was first known to be used. Others say that the day is good because that is the day that Jesus died for our sins.
Why is it on a Friday?
There is a lot of speculation about whether Jesus died on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. This is all based on the interpretation of scripture on when the sabbath was and whether it was a weekly or annual sabbath.
However, throughout the world countries who observe Good Friday do so because scripture tells us that Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation. This was the day before the sabbath. And on the third day after he was crucified he rose again, which is the day after the sabbath.
In scriptures there are many separate accounts where reference to the day after the sabbath is made:
- After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. (Matthew 28:1)
- When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. (Mark 16:1)
- The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. (Luke 23:55-56 & Luke 24:1)
They found the tomb empty. Jesus has risen!
What significance does Good Friday have for us?
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Our belief in Jesus as the Son of God who died on the cross to pay for our sins gives us eternal life in Heaven.
We celebrate Good Friday because it is a symbol of our eternal future and what Jesus gave for us to be reconciled with the Father. He died so that we may have eternal life. It is through Jesus Christ that we can have a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
